Posted: 7th March 2019 | Back to news feed
Divoky Riding School, based in Shepton Mallet, Somerset is hoping to raise funds to turn an unused warehouse into a riding therapy room.
Owner, Pat Bishop, was inspired by a similar indoor riding arena at Bolsover Castle in Derbyshire, and her aim is to create an area where small ponies can be ridden and mini ponies can be handled in a classical way.
As an Accessibility Mark accredited centre, the in-hand work will be used as walking therapy to promote weight-loss and boost self-esteem for participants. Just spending time with horses has been shown to increase mental and physical wellbeing.
It will also enable their smaller, more vulnerable riders to be able to continue their riding therapy all year round, as many struggle to participate during cold, wet weather in the winter, and equally during the heat of summer meaning their fitness can suffer.
The arena will provide enough space to work two small ponies or four mini ponies at any one time and Pat is looking forward to doing practice dressage tests in walk and trot and to running a Strictly Come Shetland Club with tests to complete.
Said Pat: “We are always looking for ways to improve our services. The new therapy room will have the benefit of a full mirrored wall so that participants can enjoy watching themselves ride and see what they are achieving. There will also be some 'Harry Potter' influences to engage the children.
“Once we have secured sufficient funding to allow us to purchase the wall mirrors and the surface, we could be up and running within a matter of weeks.”
A ‘Go Fund Me’ page has been set up to collect donations with a target of £10,000 needed to complete the exciting project. Local company, Hanson Quarry Group, based in Frome has donated £1000 to give the venture an initial boost and the centre is appealing to other local businesses and individuals to get involved.
As a past winner of the Best Rural Sporting Business at the Rural Business Awards 2017, Divoky Riding Stables is dedicated to constantly seeking out new and innovative ideas to benefit the local community.
The ‘Go Fund Me’ page can be found on the Divoky Riding School Facebook page or anyone interested in making a donation can contact Pat Bishop on 01749 587 009 or email pat.divoky@gmail.com.
Accessibility Mark status is awarded to a riding centre that has been approved by the RDA following training and assessment. The close link with the RDA means that it can offer continuous support to the establishment to ensure it provides a first-class experience that aims to be hugely beneficial to riders of varying levels of disability.
There are currently 51 Accessibility Mark-approved centres across the country.
To find your nearest RDA Group or Accessibility Mark centre visit www.rda.org.uk
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